Ghana High Commissioner Declares Future of UK-Ghana Economic Cooperation Bright at London Summit

Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland, Sabah Zita Benson, has delivered an optimistic assessment of the economic relationship between Accra and London, declaring that both nations are well-positioned to build a partnership centred on prosperity, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Speaking at the opening of the Ghana-UK Investment Summit 2026 in London, Mrs Benson told an audience of business leaders, institutional investors, policymakers, and development partners that the High Commission stands ready to serve as a bridge between British capital and Ghanaian opportunity.

“We stand ready to facilitate engagements, provide information, and support businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence in our country,” she stated at the two-day event, which was opened by President John Dramani Mahama and organised jointly by the Ghana High Commission, Invest Africa, and the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

The summit arrives at a moment of significant momentum in bilateral relations. The event follows the recent signing of the UK-Ghana Growth Deal, a wide-ranging agreement designed to deepen economic cooperation and accelerate job creation across multiple sectors. That deal was part of a broader Growth Partnership worth over £215 million, signalling the scale of London’s commitment to Ghana as a strategic African partner.

Mrs Benson framed the summit as more than a diplomatic exercise. “This gathering reflects our shared belief that the relationship between Ghana and the United Kingdom should continue to evolve into a modern economic partnership built on mutual prosperity, innovation, sustainability, and shared growth,” she said.

Central to Ghana’s pitch to investors is President Mahama’s vision of a 24-hour economy — a policy framework designed to increase productivity, enhance exports, and attract investment into value-added industries through round-the-clock economic activity. The High Commissioner argued that this approach, combined with political stability, abundant natural resources, and a youthful workforce, gives Ghana a compelling competitive advantage.

“We want investors to see Ghana as a trusted market, a long-term sustainable partner, and a gateway to the wider African market,” Mrs Benson said, noting that membership of the African Continental Free Trade Area offers preferential access to a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people.

The summit programme covered priority sectors including infrastructure, energy, mining, agribusiness, manufacturing, financial services, technology, healthcare, and tourism. Participants were also set to visit Ghanaian public and private businesses as part of President Mahama’s push to promote homegrown enterprises on the international stage.

In a concrete demonstration of UK commitment, British High Commissioner to Ghana Dr Christian Rogg announced that the Private Infrastructure Development Group is making its largest investment to date — a £101 million ship repair and dry-docking facility at Takoradi Port. The project is expected to create up to 430 jobs, with 30 percent of positions reserved for women, while strengthening Ghana’s position as a regional maritime and logistics hub.

The investment underscores a broader pattern: London appears increasingly willing to back Ghanaian infrastructure with significant capital, viewing the West African nation as both a stable democracy and a gateway to sub-Saharan markets. Whether the rhetoric of partnership translates into sustained, equitable growth for ordinary Ghanaians will depend on execution — but the diplomatic signals from this summit suggest both governments see the relationship as one worth deepening.

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